Let’s talk about sex education

Opinion

February 20, 2012

Let’s talk about sex education

By Leslie N. Dees CNHI News Service The Star Herald Mon Feb 20, 2012, 09:48 AM CST

KOSCIUSKO — On paper, the abstinence-only sex education plan looks as though it will save Mississippi public school children from the pitfall of pre-martial sex and teenage parenthood.

But how helpful is it going to be?

The Attala County School District and other districts are in the discussion phase of adopting a plan that stems from Mississippi House Bill 999 and will be implemented in the coming school year.

There are two choices: the abstinence-only plan and abstinence-plus plan.

And, from what I’ve been hearing, most schools are opting for the abstinence-only plan.

Yes, abstinence is the only sure-fire way to prevent sexually transmitted disease and pregnancy. It is the only 100 percent effective form of birth control.

However, not teaching the entire picture – one that includes information on sexually transmitted diseases and other forms of birth control – is just wrong.

It’s like putting a Band-Aid on a gunshot wound. The Band-Aid isn’t going to heal it. It’s just going to hide it.

Last year, in Mississippi there were 5,462 babies born to unwed mothers, ages 15-19.

And, through the abstinence-only education, students will learn negative effects of not-abstaining and the consequences. The burden that can be placed on the student and their parents if a child is born out of wedlock.

They will be taught how to reject sexual advances and how drugs and alcohol can increase vulnerability to sexual advances.

Also, that sexual activity in the marital relationship is the only appropriate way.

The abstinence-plus plan provides the same information with this exception: teaches age-appropriate material on contraceptives and sexually transmitted diseases with the factual information on risks and failure rates.

When all is said and done, these questions remain: When did it come the school system’s job to teach students morals? Isn’t that the parents’ job?

Leslie N. Dees is the managing editor of The Star-Herald. Email her at editor@starherald.net or follow her on Twitter at www.twitter.com/lndees.

Text Only

Opinion

Can ‘good’ news sell the newspaper?
As the saying goes – “If it bleeds, it leads.” The “hard stuff” – murders, wrecks, fires, deaths and the like – has been selling newspapers and upping the ratings of television stations for years.

May 15, 2013
On Getting ‘Stranded’
Beth and I were in Kosciusko last week for our semiannual visit to the dentist. As we rounded the corner from West Adams onto North Madison, there she stood in all her refurbished splendor: The Strand Theater!

May 9, 2013
Fear of Big Red canceled fishing
I have said before that my daddy loved fishing. Not having a son to fish with for eight years, I was his fishing buddy. He had his favorite “fishing holes” and one of them belonged to Mr. John Yates. The only problem was, we had to walk about a mile from where we parked our car to get to the pond.

April 17, 2013
Summertime visiting
I was always so excited for summer break to come about because that meant that I could begin my visits to my cousin’s houses out in the country. I loved to spend several days with my aunt and uncle and three cousins in the Hebron community. I would always go during their revival time and we would go every night.

February 7, 2013
Parlez-vous francais?
Absolutely not! Some of my Southern English is so drawn out with my Southern accent that some cannot understand me at all times.

January 18, 2013
Bacon accident
My husband loves bacon. But only if it’s cooked in the oven at 425 degrees. It comes out in about 20 minutes crispy and crunchy.

January 10, 2013
‘The night before Christmas’
T’was several days before Christmas and all throughout The Star-Herald everyone was scurrying to get the next edition out.

January 2, 2013
Fire escape fear becomes a reality
When I was in middle school, we went to school in the big three story red brick building that used to set where the Attala County Library now sets. The first floor was third grade, second floor fourth grade, and third floor fifth grade

January 2, 2013
Memories of The Strand
The Strand Theatre was so important to me and my life during my childhood. I was given 50 cents a week for an allowance and all of it would go to my Saturday movie time.

December 27, 2012
Selecting a tree for classroom
My children have always been great volunteers! I volunteer mama to bake cookies, I volunteer mama to raise some money, I volunteer mama to get our class Christmas tree this year. See what I mean, always quickly to volunteer MAMA!

December 19, 2012
More Opinion Headlines

Opinion

Search Results

Let’s talk about sex education

Site Map